Much more detail needed in Campbell Newman’s mining policy

LNP leader Campbell Newman has made comments today about the need to protect farmers from mining but the Lock the Gate Alliance has called on him to go much further than this.

Lock the Gate Alliance president, Drew Hutton, said the LNP in the past had simply gone along with the Labor government's mantras about coal and coal seam gas mining being able to co-exist with agriculture.

"For the LNP to have credibility, it must now proclaim a clear set of principles governing the impacts of mining and put together policies that detail how it will protect all good quality agricultural land, underground water systems, closely settled areas and sensitive ecosystems," Mr Hutton said.

"It is not good enough to talk about a new regulatory authority and banning mining from the Ceecil Plains flood plain.

"We want our food bowl, the Great Artesian Basin and residential areas protected and we want to know how his party will do all that.

"The LNP should start by commiting to changing the government's proposed Strategic Cropping Land legislation so that it protects at least 4 per cent of the state's best agricultural land – and not 1 per cent as the Bligh government is planning - and that legislation must also cover coal seam gas.

"It should also commit to reviewing all mining exploration permits in order to withdraw all those that impact too closely on residential areas."